Source: California Community Colleges

Date Published: 09.22.2025

Link: Evaluating the Housing Potential of California’s Community College Campuses

CityLAB-UCLA’s report evaluates the potential of California Community College (CCC) lands to provide affordable housing for students. Motivated by the severe lack of on-campus housing, just one-tenth of one percent of the 2.1 million students in the CCC system are housed on campus. The study argues that utilizing campus land can address the housing crisis and improve student success. The research found that nearly 60% of CCCs are located in expensive housing markets, 48% are in “high-opportunity areas,” and 40% serve disadvantaged student populations.

By analyzing data on all 115 CCC campuses, the report identified 14 colleges where new student housing would have the greatest impact. The study then focused on four of these colleges in Los Angeles County: Cerritos College, Citrus College, El Camino College, and Long Beach City College. The analysis revealed that on average, 60% of the land at these campuses remains unbuilt. By conservatively targeting surface parking lots, the report estimates that 405 housing units could be built across the four campuses. The report concludes that a targeted, data-driven approach is crucial for the effective appropriation of funds and the successful development of student housing.